Moistening device



Jan, 13, l 925.

E. R. SWANSON MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 u:l v\ W y f i i JJ@ o Q 4f Awa/wy .1..." o Q w m www a Z 7 y 2.( 7 l f fH y @v 5% w Y M 5 5l! 6 G a f o A, M /b 0 4. 7 4 Z 2 Jan, 13, 1925.

E. R. SWA NSON MOISTENING -DEVICE Filed Jan. 2.

1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,522,925 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEsT R. swANsoN, or CRANsToN, RHODE ISLAND, AssreNoR To UNIVERSALWIND- 'ING coMPANY, or Ros-TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION orMASSACHU- SETTS.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

Application led January 2, 1928. Serial No. 610,306.

To all whom Mn-ay comem:

Be it'known that I, ERNEST R. SwANsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

Cranston, in the county of, Providence, State of Rhode Island, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Moistening Devices, ofwhich the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in moistening or conditioningdevices for use with textile machines.

Onebbject of lthe invention is to provide a moistening device in whichcops and bobbins of yarn or thread may be held 1mmersed in the treatingiiuid so that the material may be delivered therefrom in a dampenedstate carrying the proper content of moisture.

Another object-0f the invention is to provide an immersion trough ortank 1n which the cops o-r bobbins are supported -on holders,selfcontained within the tank,

to adapt the yarn to be delivered therefrom to a winding or othermachine for conversion in its moistened state.`

Another object of the invention is to ,provide a moistening device inwhich the cops or bobbins may be conveniently and quickly applied totheir holders in the tank and as readily removed therefrom in doffngspent bobbins and replacing them with fresh ones. v

Another object of the invention is to provide means for regulating thedegree of immersion of the bobbins in the fluid to control the amount ofmoisture applied to the material thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a moistening device havinga tank or trough for the fluid, bobbin-holders for supporting thesupply-cops or bobbins therein, and individual covers for the bobbins inthe-tank, all combined in a unitary appliance. which may be employed asan attachment for various types Aof textile machines.

Other objectsof the improvement are Aset forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated 'by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a .well known type of winding machine, showin myimproved moistening device as applie to use thereour yand need no`detailed explanation.

Fig. 2, an enlarged, detailed view of the immersion tankl of the device,showing the adjustable overliow drain, the socket in the edge of thetank for receiving the hingepivot or trunnion of the cover, and alsothe. stop-lug for the cover; and

Fig. 6, cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating aplurality of supply-bobbins supported in series on one of the covers ofthe immersion tank.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings,

I have preferred to herein illustrate my improved moistening orconditioning device as applied7 to use with a well known type of windingmachine to moisten orIotherwise treat yarn or thread during the processof winding it into merchantable cops or packages, or for converting itto other processes in the textile arts. It is to be understood, however,that my improved apparatus is susceptible of adaptation to other usesand may be applied as an attachment to various other types of textilemachines.

As herein shown the winding machine comprises a series of units or heads2 mounted on a bed or table 3 which is supported from the floor onsuitable legs 4. Only two winding units or heads 2 are hereinillustrated, but usually they are arranged in gangs of six or more,spaced at a convenient distance apart on the bed 3. Each Windercomprises, essentially, a rotating windingsp'indle or mandrel 5 onwhichl the vcop is wound; a reciprocating thread-guide 6 for traversingthe yarn on the spindle; and a tension-device 7 for applying tension to.the yarn as it feeds to the guide. These several' elements of thewinding-mechanism and the means for operating the same are well knowntothoseversed in the art Suiice it to state that the yarn or thread y tobe wound is supplied from any suitable form of cop or bobbin, usuallyarranged below the machine, and delivers therefrom to the tension-device7 which, as herein illustrated, consists of a pair of opposite grids orplates 8 having cross-bars 9 for pressing against the yarn to applyresistance to its draft. The yarn g/ draws between ,the plates 8 andthence-leads through a slot or eye in th thread-guide 6 which directs itonto the spindle 5, and as the latter is rotated the yarn is depositedthereon in helical coils to form the layers of a conical or cylindricalpackage C. Suitable instrumentalities are provided for arresting theoperation of the machine when the yarn or thread breaks or its supply isexhausted, and a starting lever 10, shown in Fig. l, is connected tostart the winding operation after the end has been pieced up. y

In its present preferred form my improved moistening device comprises arelatively long, narrow and shallow tank or trough 11 having means forholding a series of supplycops` or bobbins B in horizontalv positiontherein with their under sides immersed in thefluidin the bottom of thetank. As a convenient arrangement, the trough 11 is supported frombrackets 12 clamped tothe legs 4 of the winding or other machine, beingrovided with depending `lugs 14 on its ttom which are slotted to receivethe bolts 15 employed for clamping the brackets in place.

One improved feature of my invention consists in supporting thesupply-bobbins on pivoted holders whereby they may be swung downwardlyinto horizontal position to immerse them in the fluid in the tank; orraised into vertical position to render them easily accessible forpiecing up their yarns, and for dofling the empty bobbins and replacingthem with fresh supplies. lVith this end is view, I preferably supportthe Y bobbins on holders 18 `mounted on hinged 23 of the tank 11, seeFigs. 3 and 5.

Vcovers 20 which normally rest within the open top of the trough or tank11 to close the space between its sides. Each cover 20 is of hollow,box-like construction and is provided with lateral pivots or trunnions21 adapted to be received within recessed bearings or sockets 22 in theopposite sides At the rear of the trunnions the flat top of the cover 20is formed with a right-'angled web or flange 24, to which is securedtheholder 18 for the bobbin B. As Vsho-wn more particularly in Figs. 3 and4, the bobbin-holder 18 may consist of a short spindle or mandrel havinga reduced, screw-threaded portion .25 inserted through a hole in thedepending yflan e 24 on the cover 20 and secured therein y a nut 27. Thespindle 18 is adapted for insertion into the butt end of the woodenyarn-carrier or bobbin-tube b, being usually provided with a pluralityof liaaeas resilient splines or spring-fingers 28 for At the forward endof the cover 20 is i a depending web orflannfe 29 which is cut away'atits centersee ig. 2, to provide a `flaring opening 30 leading into aslit 31 through which the yarn y from the bobbinv B draws. The top ofthe cover 20 projects beyond the web 29 in an overhanging ledge or flap32 which, when the cover is closed down between the sides of the tank,will overlap the rearward end of the next adjacent cover of the seriesas shown in Fig. 1. The flap 32 is also provided with a guiding slit 33for the yarn, similar to the slit 31 in the web 29. It is to beunderstood that a separate cover is provided for each `bobbin in thetank and that` the number of bobbins used depends o-n the number ofwinding 4heads or other machine units to which the yarns are to besupplied. It is also brought to attention that if it is required;todeliver the yarns to the machine doubled,0r in multiple, a plurality of-bobbins may be held side by side on each cover with their several yarnsdrawing through the single slit 31 or through a plurality of such slits,see Fig. 6. Such an adaption of the device would require only slightmodification in the structure and arrangement herein shown and wouldfall within the purview of the present invention.

To sustain the covers 20 in horizontal po-l sition. closed down betweenthe sides of the tank 11, I may employ any suitable stoplug or rest suchas the extension or ear 34 projecting from the side of each cover at itsforward end, see Fig. 2. The ear 34 is adapted to rest across the topofthe forward side of the tank 11 when the cover is closed and serves asa convenient finger-grip for lifting the cover to erect kposition asillustrated at the right in Fig. 1. On one side of the trough 1l. is alug'or abutment 35 which acts as a stop to hold the cover 20 in itsupright position.

At one end of the tank or trough 11 is a fluid-leveling overflow or`outlet. 36 which may be connected to a pipe 37 leading to a suitabledrain in the floor. The overflow nipple 36 is screwed through a -hole inthe bottom of the tank 11 and secured in place by' a check-nut 38tightened against a washer 39. By loosening the nut 38 the nipple 36 maybe adjusted with its upper end at the pro-per height above the bottom ofthe tank to regulate the depth of the fluid therein, any excess fluidoverflowing through the drain; and in this way the depth of immersion ofthe bobbin may be varied in ac cordance with any particular requirement.A suitable cock or faucet 40 connected with a water supply may bearranged above the opening4 at the end of the first cover 20,

- for til see Fi 1, uto' provide a convenient means ling the tank. v

Having now described the structure and1 arrangement of a preferredembodiment of the invention in detail, its method of operation will nextbe explained. In preparlng the winding machine for operation thesupply-bobbins B are placed on their holders 18 on the covers 20 thecovers bein raised' or tilted into upright position fo 1` t 1s p urposeas shown at the right inFig. 1. The yarn y from each bobbin 1s then ledthrough the guiding slits 31 and 33 at `the forward end of the cover,thence drawn throu h the tension-device 7 to the slot in the t readguide6 and its end fastened to the cop-tube on the winding-spindle 5.

The tank or trough 11 is filled with liquid until it overflows throu hthe outlet nipple 36, a suitable emulsion uid being employed if desiredin accordance with any preferred method of conditioning or treatln thematerial. When it is simply require to moisten or dampen the yarn, watermay e'used as the conditioning a ent and in some cases it is softenedwith so uble oils or emulsiied with soap. It has been explained that theoverflow nipple 36 is adjustable with respect to the bottom of the tank11 so that the level of the tiuid may be regulated to determine thedegree of submersion to which the'bob- *bins are subjected after thecovers have been closed down between the sides of the tank. In Fig. 1the fluid is illustrated at a'level substantially coincident with theaxes of the bobbins so that the latter are one-half submerged in thebath; lbut it is obvious that a greater or less degree of saturation ofthe material on the bobbin may be obtained by raising or lowering thelevel of the fluid.

After Athe height of the fluid in the tank has been regulated asrequired, and the covers 11 closed down to bring the bobbins inhorizontal position with their sides immersed in the bath, the windingmachine is started to operate in a well known manner to build up thecops or packa es on the spindle 5. As the yarn y is ta en up by thewinding operation it draws od from the supply bobbins B through theguiding slits 31 andV 33, and any excess fluid clinging to its surfaceis scraped o. From the tank 11 the yarn passes between the grids S ofthe tension-device 7 whose cross-bars will further act to scrape oil theexcess Huid. As the yarn y feeds through the threadguide 6 to thewinding-spindle b it isl deposited thereon in layers to build up the copC while being kept moistened to the required degree to facilitate itsproper handling and to prepare or condition it for further processes ofmanufacture.

It has been determined in practice that my improved method of immersing-or submerging only a portion of the yarn on the along supply bobbin inthe bath results in a more even and uniform distribution of the treatingfluid throughout-the fibers of the mate-A rial. I have found that 'theyarn mass on the bobbin will take u only such a sli ht content fofmoisture trat no apprecia le amount ofexcess'liquid will cling tothesurface of the yarnand be carried along to the winding* or otheroperation. Stated briefly, as the yarn draws offrfrom the bobbin it willbe moistened at different points its length with substantially dryportions intervening between the damp stretches. The moisture in thedamp patches is, however. eventually distributed over the whole lengthof yarn bythe action of ca illary, attraction.V In other words, the uidspreads or creeps along the dry portions of the yarn between the moistpatches' and is taken up by the ibers to saturate the whole structure'.In this way I am enabled to dampen or condition the yarn withjust theright content of moisture without causing it to carry an excess of theliquid liable to be thrown od to s atter on the machinery and cause rustand) corrosion of the metal parts thereof. Y

With my improved device the dampening or conditioning of the yarn may beregulated to give any desired degree of moisture and no excess fluid iscarried along to be thrown od' or spattered about; yet the conplies andpiecing up the ends, while also protecting the bath from dirt, dust andlint in the air. After the yarn on a bobbin is ex hausted it is an easyand simple matter to raise the lid or cover on which it is supported andthe empty tube can then be conveniently removed and a full bobbinapplied in its. place. The ineans for regulating the level of the fiuidinthe bath provides for maintaining the bobbins immersed to the desireddegree at all times, and the device is extremely simple and economicalto manufacture while taking up but little space and being adapted forsetting in convenient position within easy reach of the o erator.

While I have herein illustrate my improved moistening device as appliedto use on a winding machine it isobvious that it may be adapted forvarious other types of textile machinery as employed in themanufacturingarts. It is` also to'be understood that while I havevherein shown and described a preferred arrangement of the device,various modiications may be made in details of construction withoutdeparting as ex. ressed in the 'appended claims. I c aim:

, 1. In a device for moistening or condi-v titioing textile fibers, thecombination with a bath of iluidof means for maintaining a` cop orbobbin non-rotatable and partly immersed in the bath whereby the mass ofmaterial thereon will ,.absorb onlya predetermined content of the fluidwhich will be eventually uniformly distributed throughout its fiberswithout any excessmoisture carried thereby.

2. In a device for moistening or conditioning textile fibers, thecombination with a bath of fluid, of means for holdin a. cop or bobbinnon-rotatable with one side only immersed in the hath to adapt the yarnor thread to absorb a content of fluid at spaced intervals along itslengt-h alternating with intervening dry portions which finally absorbthe fluid to provide for a. uniform condition of moisture throughout allof the fibers. A

3. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a bath ofconditioning Huid, of means for holding a cop or bobbin of yarn orthread non-rotatable in horizontal posii tion with its side immersed inthe Huid, and means to regulate the degree of immersion of the bobbin inthe bath to control the amount of Huid taken up by the material toprovide for the proper saturation of the 5 fibers without excessmoisture carriedtherey4. In a device of the class specified, the

combination with a tank for the condition ing fluid, of means forholding a cop or bobbin of yarn or thread in horizontal position andnon-rotatable in the tank with its side immersed in the fiuid, and meansto adjust the level of the Huid in the tank to regulate the degree ofimmersion of the bobbin to control the amount of content of fiuidabsorbed by the material thereon. p

5. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a tank for abath of conditioning fluid, and means for pivotally supporting cops orbobbins non-rotatable in the tank to adapt them to be partly immersed inthe fluid and to be raised away from the bath to facilitate the doiiingand replacing of the bobbins and the manipulation of the yarns orthreads delivering therefrom.

6. In a device of the type specified. the

combination of a tank for a bath of conditioning liuid, and pivoted copor bobbinholders adapted to support the bobbins in horizontal positionand non-rotatable inthe tank with their sides immersed in the fiuid andto be tilted into substantially upright position to raise the bobbinsout of the bath to facilitate the dofiing and replacing thereof and themani ulation of the yarns or threads leading t erefrom.

tioning fiuid, a

'bobbin-holders images 7. In a device of the type specified, thecombination of a tank fora bath. of condiplurality of covers pivoted tothe sides of the tank to close its top, and carried by the covers toadapt them to bobbins with their sides immersed in the fluid when thecovers are closed and to raise the bobbins out of the bath when thecovers are opened.` l Y 8. In adevice of the typespeciied, thecombination of a trough-like tank for a bath of conditioning' fiuid, aseries of covers hinged toythe tank to adapt them lto close its top, andmeans for supporting cops or bobbins non-rotatable on the under side ofthe covers to adapt them to be held with their sides immersed in thebath when the covers are closed andfto be raisedout of the bath when thecovers are opened.

9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a trough-liketank having sockets arranged along its sides, a plurality of coversprovided with trunnions sea-ted in the sockets on the tank to adapt thecovers to close down across its top, 'said covers formed with dependingiianges at their rearward ends and overhanging flaps at their forwardends, bobbin-holders projecting at" right-angles from the dependinganges on the covers and adap support the bobbins to hold them partlyimmersed in the tank, means for supportin the covers in closed relationon the tank, and means for holding the covers in erect position abovethe tank.

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination with atrough-like tank for a bath of conditioning fiuid, means for supportingbobbins non-rotatable in horizontalposition in the tank with their sidesimmersed in the bath, and an overflow device in the tank adapted foradjustment to control the depth of the fluid to regulate the degree ofimmersion of the bobbins.

-1l. In a device'of the type specified, the combination with atrough-like tank, of a series of box-like covers pivoted to. closewithin the sides of the tank and provided with forwardly projectingfiaps lfor closing the spaces between the covers, and means for holdingcops or bobbins non-rotatable on the under side of the covers to adaptthem to be immersed in the fiuid in the tank or to be raised out of thebath.

12. In a device of the type specified,- the combination with a tank, ofbox-like covers hinged to the tank to close down between its' sides,bobbin-holders supported on the rearward depending side of the covers,and means for guiding the yarns from the bobbins through the forwardside and up through the top of the covers.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

' ERNEST R. SWANSON.

ted to non-'rotatablyy non-rotatably support the

